How to Use a Stethoscope & Blood-Pressure Cuff

Blood pressure can be measured electronically with an electronic blood-pressure machine. In the event that it malfunctions or loses power, a blood-pressure measurement can be taken manually using a blood-pressure cuff, a sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope.

Things You'll Need

• Blood-pressure cuff
• Sphygmomanometer
• Stethoscope

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Instructions

• 1

  Write down what your patient's last blood-pressure value was. Gather your blood pressure cuff, stethoscope and sphygmomanometer in the area where you want to take the blood-pressure reading. Then wash your hands to reduce the transmission of germs.

• 2

  Determine what body area you will use for taking the blood pressure reading. You can use your patient's arms. Remove all clothing covering his arm, place him in a relaxed sitting position with the arm supported and his palm facing up.

• 3

  Wrap the blood pressure cuff around your patient's upper arm. Make sure it is fully deflated and placed slightly above the groove of his elbow by centering the arrows on the cuff in that area. Now place the sphygmomanometer next to the patient's arm and near the cuff.

• 4

  Put your stethoscope's ear pieces into your ears and place the diaphragm in the groove of your patient's elbow. Make sure the valve of your pressure bulb is closed then quickly inflate the blood pressure cuff to a value that is 30mm/Hg above your patient's last blood pressure value.

• 5

  Slowly release the pressure bulb at a rate of 2 to 3mm/Hg per second. Then listen for the first clear sound from your stethoscope. When you hear it, note the value at which it occurred on your sphygmomanometer. This is the systolic blood pressure value. The sound will slowly increase in intensity. Wait for the sound to start decreasing in intensity and listen for the last muffled sound. Note the value at which the last muffled sound occurred. This is the diastolic blood pressure value.

• 6

  Remove the cuff from your patient, assist him into a comfortable position and write down your his blood pressure values.